Week Eighteen: So You Think You Can Wear Non-Maternity Clothing

The last eleven days have been characterized by several new things in regard to Little Miss Zazu:

• Two separate occasions of carefully - very, very carefully - combing Target's clearance rack for items in pink, the color of which I have zero experience.
• Thirteen occasions of panic worry that the doctor was wrong, and I just bought my baby son a six-pack of 40% off floral onesies that read "Little Princess."
• And his her first dolly.
• And pink polka dot pants with a cute little ruffle at the ankle, EEE!
• Feelings of extreme distress from poor, confused Jack, who is catching on with all of the "Baby Marin Buzz," that something in his life is definitely amiss.  There are strangely colored items popping up in his world, he can no longer be comfortably carried by his mother for much any distance, and who is this baby we speak of anyway?  Yesterday he played Baby Marin with a Singing Crawling Baby Mickey Mouse doll for quite some time, wondering if this could really be the baby we are referencing?  And from exactly what side of the family do the giant mal-placed ears come from?
• Three shipments of used maternity capris purchased on ebay, in effort to keep clothing costs down, only to find them as non-fitting and non-returnable.  Fabulous. 
• A triumphant trip to Motherhood Maternity Outlet, where I discovered the joys of the Secret Fit Belly, oh thank God.
• A hotel overnight experience where a nameless husband possibly overflowed the toilet and then made small talk with the manager as he humbly sopped up poop water with white hotel towels, followed closely by a nameless toddler, clad adorably in swim trunks, peeing on the hotel elevator floor.  (This has nothing to do with the baby, but holy crap could I keep it secret??)
• Condemning the belly band to hell, along with its friends, the most horrible line of maternity shirts ever created.
• One mother-clinging toddler, like nobody's business.
• Offers of previously loved baby items from some seriously marvelous people.  (And good Lord of course I'm taking the offers.  This is my third baby, and I'm well versed in how quickly these small people spit up on and grow out of things.)

As I'm getting bigger, and boy howdy have we been making progress lately, I've been thinking a lot about what's to come in this pregnancy.  By this point in my last two pregnancies, I was more overweight than ever, experiencing sciatic nerve, back aches, contractions, and the beginnings of pre-eclampsia.  It was miserable, both times, and as one can imagine, one of many good reasons to not attempt pregnancy again. 

But this time around has been so different.  Pleasurable, I can almost say.  The morning sickness has been gone for a few weeks now, my blood pressure is stable, and only as of recent can I even make mention of back pain. 

(Oh wait, can I tell you that I made it through two and a half pregnancies without the slightest sign of a varicose vein, and NOW I GET ONE?  Right in the crease behind my left knee, for all the world to admire.  Bleh.) 

(We now return to hormonal euphoria.) 

For all of those women I once wanted to slap - those who gushed about how they LOVED their pregnancies - I am amazed that I can finally say I kind of get it.  It's so nice to focus on feeling my baby's little pokes and prods, and what I can eat next (ohhh the appetite,) instead of worrying about declining health and just how close to thirty-five weeks I can get.

Now don't get me wrong --  I cringe each time I step on the scale, because I seriously hate gaining the weight back, and getting up to pee three, four, and five times per night is no one's cup of tea.  (I also seriously abhor maternity clothes, please world why can't you accept me out of doors in my oversized pajama pants and Kevin's t-shirts?)

I'm so glad to have this opportunity, to see the other side of baby-growing days - to experience them knowing things will probably be okay without pouring over pregnancy books and guides, and learning to accept things for what they are.  If only my once-perfectly fitting Perfect Fit Tees would play along, I'd be in big belly heaven.

Now I'll just continue crossing my fingers that the doc was right, the pink is appropriate, the weight is losable, (the hotel won't be double-billing us,) and the toddler realizes that he's really got nothing to fear.  Unless he's not big on Barbie, heh.

Comments

[Bethany]

I pretty sure it is illegal to look that cute while pregnant.

[SJ]

Oh what a photo! I can see the look on your face! You ARE having a fantastic time and goodness, PINK is totally going to agree with you!

And the poop incident? Totally sounds like something MY Keven would do....

[Becca]

Oh wow! You look gorgeous!

[Sarah]

I LOVE the secret fit belly. Seriously, why would I ever want to wear real pants again? I've never known comfort like this!

You're totally a hot mom, by the way.

[Alissa]

you look absolutely AMAZING!

[Frema]

Molly, you really do look amazing. And 18 weeks? Holy crap!

We must talk soon. :)

[Kim]

I am slowly changing some things to be 'greener' too. We have the light bulbs and already recycle.I think that every little bit counts too! Yea for buying pink! I have 3 boys and we are in the process of adopting a baby girl from South Korea. We have a least a year until we are matched and I have already bought a few pink things! I cannot resist!

[bubblewench]

You look totally fantastic! Glad to hear things are going pretty well and you feel good. That's great.

[liz]

i lurve the secret fit belly and swear to god that i'll continue wearing them until well after i deliver this baby. my love for the secret fit belly is just this side of disturbing.
and also? gently used baby girl clothes coming your way, about a season after your bebe is born. capiche?
also? you look FANTASTIC! baby zazu is treating you well. is malin the Chosen Name?

[Liza]

Ok, you and Liz are talking me into checking out this secret fit belly business. Those look comfortable, unlike 98% of my clothing. (Today, I am wearing a non-maternity elastic band skirt hiked up to empire waist. Just call me Ms Fashion Don't.)

You, on the other hand, look fantastic!

[Amy W]

What a cute belly shot!!

And I am so glad that I don't have to shop for maternity clothes. And no, I won't be telling my husband that you had two boys and are now having a girl...man, does he want a boy.

[autumn dahlia]

You look too cute! Those maternity shirts from ON are guh-ross. I guess they think the upward zig-zag of the horizontal line will make us feel slim? Pisha!!

However, thing have come a long way since my prego days 8 years ago. I feel like everything then was just.so.ugly.

[Rachel]

Molly, you are gorgeous!! Baby girl Zazu agrees with you!!! It's nice to finally see the other side of pregnancy for a bit!

I have a feeling Jack will adjust fine and will surprise you at what a good big brother he will be!!

[glamgranola]

Lookin' good Mama!

I never did understand who could wear those low rise maternity pants and how they stayed up. i was all about the full panel!

[Parker]

I always thought you looked familiar, but I finally realized who you resemble: Julia Stiles. You definitely have that pregnant glow. :)

[Laylabean]

You look so cute! Would that I could look that healthy and glowing when I'm pregnant - I usually look like something the cat dragged in!

[erica]

You look great!

[Jacqueline]

Hi, I found you through Frema, and have been a regular reader ever since. I'm delurking to say that I didn't believe you about the secret belly fit because no thanks, I hate pants touching my belly button, but you were totally right. They are fabulous. I tried them because I couldn't keep the under the belly pants up, and I won't go back. Congrats on Miss Zazu!

[HollowSquirrel]

ACK You're too cute! You look so sassy and adorable! i'm so happy to hear you're "kind of" loving being pregnant this time! Do I see a fourth child in your future, then? lol Don't worry, I'll slap myself for you.